Study Architecture 
ProPEL 
Author(s): Jason Carlow & Kristen Highland
Storytelling, as a form of an empathetic design methodology, encourages students to approach existing social, economic, and urban conditions more sensitively and can help housing design proposals to transcend typical housing types and topdown planning strategies. This paper presents ways in which an undergraduate architecture studio can use storytelling, in parallel with a design investigation, to better understand and address the complexities of housing for migrant workers. The curriculum of the course, included reading, writing and filmmaking assignments designed to allow students to explore key social, economic and spatial issues in the lives of migrant workers. The studio, situated in the United Arab Emirates, presents a model for formulating more socially sustainable and contextually responsive housing solutions through empathetic design. By reading and creating fictional and filmic narratives in conjunction with their design endeavors, students benefit from a deeper understanding of the complexities of designing impactful, affordable housing in the Gulf region.
https://doi.org/10.35483/ACSA.Teach.2023.46
Volume Editors
Massimo Santanicchia
ISBN
978-1-944214-44-9
